modern - Rackcdn.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015
TORONTO STAR
MOST WANTED
PROFILE
CHARGED
UP
MAGIC
TOUCH
Katy Perry’s
spellbinding
new scent
The next-gen power bag
gives your style—and
your phone—a boost
page 3
page 3
EXCLUSIVE
MODERN
ROMANCE
Sofia Vergara opens up about her red
carpet secrets, bombshell beauty rituals
and upcoming Hollywood wedding
(T minus two weeks away)
page 4
Sofia Vergara and
Joe Manganiello at
the 2015 Met Gala.
Photo: Getty Images.
HOT TOPIC
TEST DRIVE
THE NEW
DATING
CAN I KICK IT?
High-style sneakers—the
latest workwear footwear
As Coffee Meets Bagel launches
in Toronto, the city’s singles are
swiping right
page 7
BY CARLY OSTROFF
The Kang sisters aren’t afraid to make
bold moves. Earlier this year, Dawoon
and Arum, 32, and Soo Kang, 35, rejected
Shark Tank judge and billionaire Mark
Cuban’s $30-million offer to buy out their
STAY CONNECTED
THEKIT.CA
@THEKIT
@THEKITCA
THEKITCA
San-Francisco-based tech start-up. Turns
out, the risk was worth the reward. Three
years after its launch, the Kangs’ dating
app, Coffee Meets Bagel, has expanded
to New York, overseas to Hong Kong and
Sydney, and now to Toronto, Vancouver
and Montreal.
“We’re just scratching the surface,” says
Dawoon Kang, on a conference call from
New York. “We think our company can
grow as big as Match.com—or bigger,” says
Kang, who met her last boyfriend via the
app. “I’m actually not together with him,”
she laughs. “But I am in a relationship with
another bagel.”
Continued on page 6
THEKIT
THE KIT MAGAZINE
GET THE
LOOK:
FESTIVE IN
FUCHSIA
NEW ANd
ExCLUSIVE
1
5
4
2
6
1 BENEFIT GIMME BROW
This brush-on fibre gel builds
easily for thick, lush arches.
3
2
$30
LANCÔME VOLuME-À-PORTER
MASCARA
The new ultra-creamy formula and
high-precision brush create long-lasting,
intense volume with a bare-lash feel.
3 STILA STAY ALL DAY
BOuRJOIS ROuGE EDITION VELVET
LIPGLOSS
Matte finish & incredibly light.
Pink Pong shown.
6 SMAShBOX PhOTO FINISh
$32
4
LISE WATIER BLuSh FONDANT
SuPRÊME
Infused with the antioxidant power of
Labrador Tea, this non-greasy,
cream-powder texture blush enhances
the cheeks. Naturel shown.
5
$23
WATERPROOF LIQuID EYE LINER
A waterproof liquid liner that glides on
with ease, won’t smudge or run & stays
in place.
$29
PRIMER WATER
Think priming benefits, hydration &
sheer radiance—all in just 1 spritz!
$37
$30
Shop Luxury Beauty 24/7 at beautyBOUTIQUE.ca
Products may not be available in all stores. see beauty Expert for details.
0001-15 4-HB-WK46-SDM-ENG-4C.indd 1
2015-10-30 3:38 PM
THEKIT.CA / 3
RADAR
MOST WANTED
Charged up
STYLE
BULLETIN
Need-to-know fashion and
beauty news
Between scrolling through Instagram, Twitter and
(of course) work emails, it’s no wonder our phone
batteries are often flashing red by the time 5 p.m.
rolls around. Instead of charging your phone at a
random power outlet (think: restaurant, bar, your
car), upgrade your handbag to a tote from Mezzi.
The Canadian brand has created a line of carryalls (and chic clutches) with built-in chargers
(boasting enough juice for three to four charges) as
well as screen-friendly suede-lined compartments.
Call it fashion that’s plugged in.—Vanessa Taylor.
Photography by Adrian Armstrong.
Burberry meets Billy Elliot
Burberry has launched a
star-studded holiday campaign
paying tribute to 15 years of Billy
Elliot. Famous faces include Elton
John—who wrote the music for
the stage adaptation—Michelle
Dockery, Romeo Beckham
and James Corden, alongside
Burberry model faves
Naomi Campbell and Rosie
Huntington-Whiteley.
Kate Spade returns
After stepping away from her
eponymous line in 2007, Kate
Spade will introduce a new
shoe and handbag collection
called Frances Valentine next
spring. The line has already been
picked up by Nordstrom
and Bloomingdale’s.
Macaron mania
The luxury French bakery
Ladurée is opening its first
Canadian store in Vancouver
early next year. Founded in Paris
in 1862, Ladurée is renowned
for its magnificent macarons.
MEZZI HANDBAG, $1,645,
CLUTCH, $195, MEZZI.CA
Taylor Swift’s new
(non-wearable) suit
Taylor Swift is facing a
$42-million lawsuit after singer
Jesse Graham claims that she
stole lines from his single “Haters
Gonna Hate” for her hit single
“Shake It Off.” Along with the
millions, Graham also asked to
be credited as a writer on Swift’s
single and to take a selfie with
her. Both requests were denied.
—Hania Ahmed
Abracadabra! Top tricks
in Katy Perry’s kit:
INTERVIEW
TOUGH COOKIE
Emily Haines, the frontwoman for rock
group Metric, is such a big fan of the
moto jacket that she teamed up with
Rudsak to create one. Here, Haines talks
style, the stage and sweatpants
1. STAGE MAKEUP
OBLITERATOR
“Shu Uemura oil. I
use it to wash all my
makeup off. It really
lifts all the residue.”
BY VANESSA TAYLOR
SHU UEMURA SKIN
PURIFIER POREFINIST
ANTI-SHINE FRESH
CLEANSING OIL, $38,
SHUUEMURA.CA
PHOTOGRAPHY: BURBERRY/MARIO TESTINO (RADAR), GETTY IMAGES (PERRY, LIP SERVICE)
On designing with Rudsak
“Evik [Asatoorian, founder of Rudsak] understands
my design vision for creating something very special.
I want this leather jacket to be an instant classic
that is both elegant and functional with, of course,
just enough rock ’n’ roll spirit. I’m so excited to see
it come to life.”
On her onstage strategy
“Dressing for stage is a completely different process
than dressing for daily life. My personal style is
much more low-key, but onstage I see my wardrobe
as part of the performance. I’m moving more toward
costuming and constructing original pieces with our
stage-design team. Everything needs to be larger
than life but still functional and durable. The worst
thing is being distracted by some rogue strap or
buckle when you want to be focused on the music.”
On her off-duty vibe
“I’m not in sweatpant territory yet—for me, jeans, a
T-shirt and sneakers is my idea of comfort in paradise.”
KATY PERRY MAD
POTION EAU DE
PARFUM, $40
(30 ML), SHOPPERS DRUG MART
PROFILE
MAGIC TOUCH
Megastar Katy Perry has plenty
of new tricks up her sleeve
Emily Haines wears
the moto jacket that
she co-designed with
Rudsak. (It’s available
March 2016.)
SHOPPING
LIP SERVICE
Put your money where your mouth
is in th e b est p ossible way : Show
support for prostate cancer research
during November by picking up Bite
B e a ut y ’s M a u ve m b e r li p p i e ($2 8 ,
sephora.ca)—all proceeds go to the
Movember Foundation.
BY RANI SHEEN
Katy Perry may not have released an
album since 2013’s Prism, but pop’s
most colourful character and this
year’s highest-earning female singer,
according to Forbes (archrival Taylor
Swift is a distant second), continues
her quest for tween-world domination. Her latest efforts: encouraging
her fans to vote for the first time, with
her endorsement of Hillary Clinton;
debuting her Katy Perry Pop game
app; and taking over H&M billboards
as the face of the brand’s holiday line.
Then there’s her expanding perfume
business. “My first fragrance, Killer
Queen, was very royal, rebellious and
floral,” says Perry. “I wanted it to be
more edible this time. Mad Potion
is a concoction of different vanillas
and musks.” But like many of Perry’s
songs, which feature adult themes
underneath the candy and rainbows,
the juice is not stereotypically girlie.
“The musk to me is androgynous,” she
explains. “The name is a reference to a
Mad Hatter of sorts—it’s a bit kooky
and weird.” Coming up with the
fragrance’s ad campaign kicked her
creative spirit into overdrive. “I’m a
sucker for themes, so when I figured
out that this would be in a potion
bottle, the campaign developed into
me playing a magician. I grabbed all
the different textures and scents to
put into the hat and pulled out the
Mad Potion bottle.” Time to stand
back and watch Perry cast her spell.
2. DIY ZIT PATROL
“Blemishes can be
treated with ice, and
eye drops take the
redness out.”
LIFE BRAND
ADVANCED RELIEF EYE
DROPS, $8, SHOPPERS
DRUG MART
3. NAIL HACK
“I was looking for
a nail file the other
day and found out a
matchbook works.
SOS tricks!”
ODEME MATCHBOOK
NAIL FILE SET, $12,
BIRCHBOX.COM
ONLINE
FOR MORE BEAUTY
AND STYLE, VISIT
THEKIT.CA/
4 / THEKIT.CA
Sofia Vergara, modern
bombshell, hits the red
carpet; with fiancé
Joe Manganiello.
EXCLUSIVE
Foxy ever after
Sofia Vergara, one of the world’s most unabashed (and funniest)
glamour pusses, opens up about her made-in-Hollywood wedding
BY RANI SHEEN
Sofia Vergara of Modern Family is
no stranger to a red carpet, but on
November 21 she will walk down a
different aisle to marry Magic Mike
XXL star Joe Manganiello. We
chatted with the 43-year-old CoverGirl ambassador over the phone
from L.A. about Colombian beauty
rituals, fashion disasters and how she
wants to look on her big day.
You’re always getting glammed up
for red carpets. What’s your plan
for your wedding beauty look? “It’s
very different for a person who has
my job than for normal women. I’m
always trying new things and I know
what looks good on me and I know
what lasts. I don’t really need to do
the look that is very natural—I want
to do something that’s a little more
sexy, so I think I’m going to go with
a bold lip, a wine colour or a red.”
What do you want your fiancé
to think when he first sees you?
“Well, that he’s not going to regret
doing this.” [laughs]
Do you fe el ne r vou s a b out
your wedding? “No, I think it’s
important to be prepared for events.
That’s what I usually do with everything, and I’m thinking about the
wedding the same way. I don’t want
to worry about the flower arrangements or the cake. I like to make
sure I worry before, so that on the
day I can just enjoy it.”
What do you carry with you in
your makeup bag? “ Lipst ic k !
I reapply it a lot. I like a bit of
conc e a ler i n c a s e s omet h i n g
happens, and a bit of powder if
my nose gets too shiny. I don’t like
to apply powder all over my face,
just on my nose. I actually carry a
makeup bag with everything: my
mascara, blush, eyeliner.”
You’re very prepared! “Yes, with
the business that I’m in, I have
700 paparazzi around me all day
long, and at my age you want to
look your best. And I love it, to be
honest—I love doing my makeup
and reapplying makeup. For me it’s
not like torture.”
How did growing up in Colombia
influence your beauty aesthetic?
“ We love makeup. O ver there
it’s not a special-occasion thing;
women in Colombia do t hei r
makeup to go to work, to take their
children to school. We always want
to look good.”
How has your approach to doing
your makeup changed since you
were younger? “I try not to do
too much dark makeup on my eyes
because then they start looking too
small, and I don’t like putting on a
lot of powder because I look dry. It’s
just about tweaking and learning
about yourself so that you can make
the changes.”
A re there any beaut y trends
that you think are hideous? “I
don’t like the mouth when it’s very
nude—it looks like a cadaver. I
think you need a pink or even just
your natural lip colour. And I’ve
always liked a woman with long
hair, so I don’t think I would ever
cut mine, like, short short.”
W hat ’s t he big gest ma keup
disaster you’ve ever had? “I never
have makeup disasters. No—I
usually reapply my lip liner pencil
without looking in a mirror because
I know the shape of my mouth.
Once I was in a dark bar with my
girlfriend and I went into my purse,
pulled out the pencil and put it on.
It was black eyeliner. To this day she
still falls on the floor remembering
that. And then one time I took my
shoes off in the car on the way to a
red carpet, and when we arrived they
opened the door and I had to put
my shoes on quickly. I put them on
the wrong feet and I did the whole
red carpet with my shoes like that.
I knew there was something wrong
but I didn’t know what to do.”
SOFIA’S
WEDDING LIP
For her November
21 wedding, Vergara
will wear a custommade CoverGirl
Outlast Longwear
lip shade that’s
somewhere in
between these two
hues. “Usually if you
reapply lipsticks
that are made to
last longer, they
kind of get cakey,”
she says. “The great
thing about this is
I’m able to reapply
and it still looks
fresh and dewy.”
COVERGIRL OUTLAST
LONGWEAR LIPSTICKS
IN RED ROGUE
AND AMAZING
AUBURN, $12 EACH,
DRUGSTORES
FASHION FLASHBACK
DOUBLE TROUBLE
When celebrity couples dress the same, the result tends to be (ahem) memorable.
We’ve rounded up the good, the bad and the crazy for your date-night dressing inspiration
BY RYAN PORTER
Kate Moss and Johnny
Depp (1994)
David and Victoria
Beckham (1999)
Britney Spears and
Justin Timberlake (2001)
Kim Kardashian and
Kanye West (2013)
Angelina Jolie and
Brad Pitt (2014)
THE LOOK: Call it
Hollywood grunge—his
’n’ hers leather jackets
on a night out in L.A.
THE LOOK: High-concept
statement looks like
these coordinated headto-toe leather ensembles
worn to a Versace party
were paparazzi catnip.
THE LOOK: All-American
pop ambassadors offering a memorable take
on the Canadian tuxedo
(denim on denim).
THE LOOK: Rippedfrom-the-runway
pieces, like these
matching Givenchy
suits at Givenchy’s
Fall 2013 show.
THE LOOK:
Gentlemen’s black-tie
attire, as rocked on
the red carpet at the
British Academy Film
Awards in London.
HER STYLE The
tighter the better,
whatever the trimester:
body-con dresses,
shock-value sheers
and anything by her
hubby’s label, Yeezy.
HER STYLE: Her ’90s
Hackers-esque indie
look evolved into goth
girl and then full-blown
femme fatale. (Remember
that thigh slit?)
HER STYLE: Now
recognized as one of
the world’s best-dressed
women, back then Moss
wore next to nothing
in her iconic Calvin Klein
campaigns.
HIS STYLE: Quirky roles
in Benny and Joon and
What’s Eating Gilbert
Grape? established
Depp as a serious actor
(not that guy from 21
Jump Street), while
off-screen, his omnipresent jacket made him
a slacker-style hero.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN:
Take inspiration from
Elie Saab and Salvatore
Ferragamo fall runways
and try a moto jacket in a
rich, jewel-toned leather.
HER STYLE: After the
Spice Girls lost Geri
Halliwell, this Spice’s
style became less Posh
and more WAG: Think
deep-orange tans and
extremely tight tops.
HIS STYLE: Beckham
owned statement
hairstyles—in addition
to processed platinum
locks, the soccer
star popularized the
fauxhawk and the
man-bun predecessor:
the high pony.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN:
All-over leather gets
a modern revamp in
Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2015
three-piece suits.
HER STYLE “Oops!…
I Did It Again” topped the
charts and Spears’s style
philosophy attracted
headlines—she pushed
Disney standards of
decency with sheer-andsequin minidresses and
baby-doll crop tops.
HIS STYLE: A year before
leaving the boy band ’N
Sync, Timberlake was still
a proud practitioner of all
things matchy-matchy.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN:
The jumpsuit is the
best way to rock headto-toe denim this fall.
For maximum style
points, try a darker
wash as at Karen Walker
and 3.1 Phillip Lim.
HIS STYLE: Yeezusera Kanye’s been
defined by sweatshirts layered over
extra-long tees,
leather leggings and
chunky sneakers.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN:
Suits in a relaxed
silhouette, like on the
Hermès runway, feel
super fresh. (Kim can
always forgo the shirt
for a flash of flesh.)
HIS STYLE: Mr. Pitt
does ripped 501s as well
as he does a dapper suit,
but he’s usually somewhere between the two:
man about town in a flat
cap and vest.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN:
Skip the bow tie in
favour of a skinny
scarf à la Chloé and
borrow super-narrow
suspenders from Saint
Laurent, to add just a
touch of punk to the mix.
Dear Bumble and
bumble Don’t Blow
It: My hair dryer
lives a pretty easy
life: called upon on
the rare occasion
that I’m racing to
leave the house. I
usually stick to an
air-dry-only policy,
both to minimize
damage and to allow
my natural wave
pattern to emerge.
You, a glossy
cream made with
bounce-enhancing
polymers and
conditioning prickly
pear and cactus
flower extracts,
are designed for
me. Raked through
damp hair, you
lessen frizz, allowing
my waves to be their
best selves—and
leaving my hair
dryer with even
less to do. My best,
Rani Sheen
BUMBLE AND BUMBLE DON’T
BLOW IT, $36, SEPHORA.CA
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES (VERGARA, SPEARS AND TIMBERLAKE, KARDASHIAN AND WEST, PITT AND JOLIE, MOSS AND DEPP), REX USA (BECKHAM)
ONE-MINUTE MIRACLE
ADVERTISEMENT
P R E T T Y
PERFECT
H O L I DAY
Now is the time to stock up now on all your
luxe faves, for the beauty lover on your list.
And that, of course, includes you.
H A U TE H O LID AY
This limited-edition, four-shade
must-have is made for perfectly
flushed cheeks. NARS and
Steven Klein Collaboration
Despair Cheek Palette, $80
LUXE LEGEND
High wattage colour meets ultra-feminine
rebellion in two gorgeous lip-embossed
bullets. YSL Rouge Pur Couture Kiss &
Love Collector Le Rouge 01 and Rouge
Pur Couture Kiss & Love Collector Le
Fuchsia 19, $39 each
SM OKE SHOW
Create multiple iterations of the
quintessential smokey eye thanks to
this richly hued palette. Bobbi Brown
Sterling Nights Eye Palette, $88
P ER FEC T P OUTS
A new, on-trend lip shade
for every cocktail party? Yes,
please! Smashbox ART.LOVE.
COLOR. LIPS, $25
LO V E LETTER S
Aim straight for the heart this
holiday with a gift full of Stila
cult favourites. Stila Sending
My Love Gift Set, $64
ICON STATUS
An award-winning scent, Black
Opium, a heady mix of black
coffee, vanilla and white florals, is
the ultimate scent seduction this
season. YSL Black Opium Eau de
Toilette, $75 (50 mL)
SET FOR
T H E S O IR EE
Consider this party-in-a-tin
your best beauty friend through
all your holiday gatherings.
Benefit Pret-a-Party, $59
LET IT G LO W
Add a hit of subtle shine to your face
and décolleté thanks to Guerlain’s
powder pod inspired by white
snowflakes. Guerlain Météorites
Flocons Enchantés, $89
S PA RKLE & SHINE
A pretty pair of polishes, the
complementary soft rose and
sparkle polishes are made for the
party scene. Deborah Lippmann
Roses In The Snow Gift Set, $18
*Offer valid on the purchase total of eligible products using a valid Shoppers Optimum Card® after discounts and redemptions and before taxes. Not to be used in conjuction with any other points promotions or offers.
Offer valid in-store and online at murale.ca from Thursday, November 12 to Sunday, November 15, 2015. See Beauty Master for details.
20x The Optimum Points
NOVEMBER 12 TO 15
BE AUT Y NEVER SLEEPS
CALGARY SOUTHCENTRE MALL
MONTRÉAL PLACE VILLE MARIE
TORONTO THE SHOPS AT DON MILLS
EDMONTON WEST EDMONTON MALL
WHEN YOU SPEND $125 OR MORE ON
ALMOST ANYTHING IN THE STORE.
SHOP 24/7 AT MURALE.CA
VANCOUVER OAKRIDGE MALL
6 / THEKIT.CA
HOT TOPIC
THE NEW
DATING
HOW TO CREATE THE
PERFECT PROFILE
Continued from cover
The Kang sisters, Coffee Meets Bagel co-founders,
from left: Arum (CEO), Dawoon (COO) and Soo
(creative director).
A complete bio with the right pictures can
increase your dating-app success rate by
30 per cent. Here are the dos and don’ts
of meeting your match
DO: Include at least
three recent highquality pictures in
your profile. “These
profiles are 31 per
cent more likely to
get liked than those
with one photo,”
says Kang.
Fortune magazine, 40 per cent of women
with degrees in tech-related fields never
enter the industry or drop out within the
first five years. The Kang siblings defy statistics. They grew up inspired by their father’s
entrepreneurial spirit and graduated from
the Stanford School of Business (Dawoon),
Har vard Business School (Arum) and
Parsons School of Design (Soo).
Still, as women working in tech, they
represent a minority within a prevailing
“bro-grammer” culture. “In the tech industry,
so much of how you raise money or how you
attract talent is about fit and chemistry,” says
Kang. “It’s very hard when you don’t look
like a majority of the people here.” That’s
not to say they aren’t tackling the problem
head-on. “Being a girl boss means leading
by example and hopefully inspiring young
women to enter this field,” says Kang, who is
as committed to breaking ground as she is to
sparking true love. The men of Silicon Valley
may have met their match.
DON’T: Post any
blurry, dark or
group shots first.
THE DATING-APP
ALTERNATIVES
Tired of Match.com? Try
downloading one of these new
digital matchmakers instead
BUMBLE
With Bumble, the brainchild of
former Tinder executive Whitney
Wolfe, female users have to make
the f irst move before matches
disappear in 24 hours.
HINGE
The app, which relies on Facebook
to pair users with friends of friends,
is becoming more popular for its
approach to establishing relationships within daters’ networks.
HAPPN
Possibly the most provocative of the
apps, Happn uses a GPS service to
track users’ movements and highlights prospective matches in the
same places at the same time.
DO: Post at least
one clear headshot, one fullfigure photo and
an action shot
that will work as a
great conversation
starter. According
to Kang, “Photos
with pets, food,
sports that show
the person’s interests and hobbies
are common among
popular profiles.”
DON’T: Be vague
with details
when describing
yourself, hobbies,
likes and dislikes
in your profile. “On
average, the top
10 per cent most
popular profiles
had 35 per cent
more information
than the bottom
50 per cent,”
says Kang.
DO: Tailor your
profile with one
to three specific
descriptors about
you and one to
three activities you
enjoy regularly.
Remember, don’t
leave any categories blank.
DON’T: Act slowly.
As they say, you
snooze, you lose.
Analyzed data
showed users who
texted within the
first 24 hours of
connecting were
more likely to
exchange phone
numbers and
continue talking.
DO: Ask questions.
Users who started
conversations
with questions
exchanged 23
per cent more
messages in a
week than those
who didn’t.
COOL COLLAB
NARS X STEVEN KLEIN
Horses in swimming pools, gruesome medical masks and impeccably dressed
robots—fashion photographer Steven Klein is known for creating fantastical,
surreal tableaux, often featuring the makeup artistry of François Nars. Now
the talented duo have collaborated on a new project: a makeup collection out
this month, complete with lipstick, nail polish, shimmering shades of blush
and collectible palettes emblazoned with Klein’s photos. In a word: essential.
NARS STEVEN KLEIN DUAL-INTENSITY BLUSH IN VENGEFUL, $55, AUDACIOUS LIPSTICK
IN REDEMPTION, $36, NAIL POLISH IN NIGHT CREATURE, $25, NARSCOSMETICS.COM
PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCKPHOTO (ILLUSTRATION), COURTESY OF NARS (NARS)
The secret, says Kang, is all about quality
over quantity. “Online dating has become
this numbers game where people are inundated,” she explains. “You end up making
superficial decisions based on photos that
you spend, like, half a second on.” Coffee
Meets Bagel aims to end the digital blitz by
creating a curated social experience. Unlike
Tinder, which promises 15 million matches
a day, Coffee Meets Bagel uses Facebook
login information to recommend matches
based on a proprietary data-gathering algorithm, which gets better at predicting the
best matches as you “pass” or “like” users
over time. Mutual likes receive access to a
private phone line for texting. “We’re focused
on making meaningful relationships,” says
Kang. “The reason we give you only one
match a day is because we want you to spend
time thinking about this person.”
In the past few months, the tech industry
has been a hot topic in mainstream media,
not only for its progressive paid-leave policies
but also for its widespread gender gap.
According to a recent study published in
THEKIT.CA / 7
TEST DRIVE
Editor-in-Chief
Laura deCarufel
@Laura_deCarufel
@LauradeCarufel
Can I kick it?
Creative Director
Jessica Hotson
@jesshotson
The humble sneaker has officially been promoted
to high-style workwear footwear. One writer takes
the trend for a spin
Senior Editor
Alex Laws
@LexLaws
Beauty Editor
Rani Sheen
@ranisheen
BY OLIVIA STREN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAYLA ROCCA
Olivia Stren
hits the street in
stylish sneakers.
In the opening scenes of the
1988 f ilm Working Girl, Staten
Island secretar y Tess McGill,
played by Melanie Griffith, treks
to her Manhattan off ice with
her spray-stiffened coif as vertically inclined as her ambitions.
Endowed with a “head for business
and a bod for sin,” she’s outfitted in
a skyscraper-grey skirt suit paired
with puffy white Reeboks and
bunched athletic socks over her
polka-dotted black nylons—the
commuter uniform of the 1980s
careerist. When Tess settles into
her cubicle, she trades her scuffed
trainers for power pumps.
If the sneaker spent the ’80s
in the (unseemly, I think we can
all agree) society of the sheer nylon
and the shoulder-padded skirt suit,
it’s now bounced back into fashion.
But today’s iteration is keeping
more urbane company. The unim-
peachably chic Eva Chen was
recently snapped sporting a pair of
New Balance for J.Crew sneakers
with bordeaux-coloured culottes
while running errands with her
baby and husband, displaying the
(studied) allure of effortlessness.
“It’s about ease,” muses Brit-born,
Toronto-based stylist Georgia
Groom. “Ease is always chic. I
feel that Coco Chanel would wear
sneakers if she were alive today.”
These days, of course, the
sneakers-and-tailoring look is
very different than it was in the
Me Decade. “In the ’80s, it was
actually about a lack of power—
Tess McGill had to take the shoes
off,” says Groom. (While Tess’s
comf y foot wear allows her to
motor efficiently through her day,
her corner-office boss, played by
Sigourney Weaver, doffs her heels
only when swishing down an Alp.
Striding off the elevator, Weaver is
already wearing pumps.) “Today,
you don’t take off your trainers
when you get to the office,” says
Groom. “The trainer isn’t schleppy,
it’s part of the outfit.” Another
difference is that the 2015 sneaker
is not the beat-up commuter sole of
yore. “Our trainers are box fresh.
It’s a nod to American hip hop
culture, and to the Casuals culture
in the U.K.,” Groom says, referencing the 1980s British football
hooligan subculture (the Casuals
were known for wearing designer
sportswear). When Groom tells me
this she is, incidentally, wearing
Stan Smiths with a pair of black
gaucho pants.
Taking inspiration from Chen
and Groom, I purchase some
J.Crew New Balances in particularly fresh shades of beige, green
and tender pink, and put them on
with a pair of culottes. I bounce
to my office (in my case, a room
in my own house), in hopes that
the footwear might make me into
the sort of productive and multitasking person too busy (read: too
important) to waste time on the
discomfort of heels. I wear them
to a meeting and to a lunch date,
and to read a story about why
writers procrastinate—as a means
of procrastinating. I’m wearing
them now. But I’m still culottedeep in (missed) deadlines.
It seems it may require more
than a new running shoe to make
Digital/Special
Projects Editor
Michelle Bilodeau
@mbilodeau
Assistant Digital Editor
Carly Ostroff
@carlyostroff
Assistant Beauty
and Fashion Editor
Natasha Bruno
@Natashajbruno
Assistant Editor
Veronica Saroli
@vsaroli
Assistant Art Directors
Sonya van Heyningen
@svanh7
Kristy Wright
@creativewithak
Designer
Amber Hickson
@amblynncreative
Publisher, The Kit
Giorgina Bigioni
Associate Publisher
Tami Coughlan
Project Director,
Digital Media
Kelly Matthews
Direct advertising
inquiries to:
Marketing Manager
Evie Begy
eb@thekit.ca
FROM TOP: RON WHITE SNEAKERS,
$395, RONWHITESHOES.COM.
COLE HAAN SNEAKERS, $220,
COLE HAAN. FOREVER 21
SNEAKERS, $40, FOREVER21.COM.
ADIDAS SNEAKERS, $110, ADIDAS.CA.
LACOSTE SNEAKERS, $135,
TOWNSHOES.CA
The Kit is Canada’s 360˚
beauty and style leader
(c) 2015, The Kit,
a division of Toronto Star
Newspapers Limited.
an efficient yet effortless working
girl out of me. After all, as Tess
is cautioned by her best friend,
played by Joan Cusack: “Sometimes I sing and dance around my
house in my underwear. Doesn’t
make me Madonna. Never will.”
President, Star
Media Group
John Cruickshank
Editor-in-Chief,
Toronto Star
Michael Cooke
NOW TRENDING
HAIR FACIALS
Just as there’s no skincare substitute for a facial,
hair loves a pro treatment. Try:
1. Kevin Murphy Treat.Me is customized for scalp,
ends and areas of damage—like the T-zone of
your head. Find a salon: kevinmurphy.com.au.
2. L’Oréal Professionnel Pro Fiber anchors in
a repairing molecule for long-lasting shine.
Find a salon: lorealprofessionnel.ca.
3. Nioxin Scalp Renew Dermabrasion Treatment exfoliates the scalp to remove product
and excess sebum and boost thinning or fine
hair. A one-minute head massage activates the
serum. Find a salon: nioxin.com.
the
Holiday
Style
Event
PRO PERSPECTIVE
HOT MAMA
Brit makeup artist Charlotte
Tilbury talks multi-tasking,
delivery-room glamour and
sleeping in her makeup
PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER STIGTER (HAIR FACIALS), GETTY IMAGES (TILBURY)
BY NATASHA BRUNO
Hudson’s Bay and The Kit present a night
of holiday cocktails, shopping and style
Charlotte Tilbury is known for making
the most glamorous women in the
world look even more spectacular: Amal
Clooney, Naomi Campbell and her longtime BFF Kate Moss, for starters. In 2013,
Tilbury—who is also the mother of two
young boys—turned her makeup obsession
into a namesake beauty line to bring her
siren touch to women everywhere. During
a recent stopover in New York, Tilbury
spilled on how she balances family life and
the beauty biz, while being dolled up 24/7
(yes, even while giving birth).
Sticks and eyeshadow pencils are all born
out of me being a busy mom. I don’t have
time to do 10- or 15-minute makeup.”
Michelle Bilodeau
Laura deCarufel
Editor-in-Chief
Senior Editor
ON THE GO
LABOUR OF LOVE
Tuesday, November 17
6:00 to 8:00 PM
Wednesday, November 18
6:00 to 8:00 PM
Wednesday, November 18
6:00 to 8:00 PM
VANCOUVER DOWNTOWN
TORONTO QUEEN STREET
MONTREAL DOWNTOWN
“When I’d get home from work before I had
children, I’d pour myself a glass of wine and
relax. Now I’m playing games and putting
them to bed for two hours. I didn’t have
much time before, but now my makeup is
literally done in the back of the cab.”
EXPERT REGIMEN
“I’ll get out of the shower and do a mask
while I’m moisturizing my body and
getting dressed. My clay mask saves my
skin. When you’re exhausted, your skin
is dehydrated—I feel like I’m aging. I do
this mask five times a week and I keep it
on for about half an hour, minimum 10
minutes, while I’m multi-tasking.”
FAST COMPANY
“Being a mother has inspired me to create
more one-minute makeup. My Beach
Charlotte Tilbury, flanked by
mega-models Miranda Kerr (left)
and Alessandra Ambrosio.
CHARLOTTE TILBURY
GODDESS SKIN CLAY MASK,
$80, HOLT RENFREW
“I always have makeup on—no way would
my husband see me without it. So when
I went into the delivery room, I wore
my Rock ‘N’ Kohl Eyeliner. It’s waterproof and stays for 12 hours, so through
the screaming and God knows what, my
eyeliner was still on. I also wore my Beach
Stick, but I did sort of sweat that off—I
was in a pool of water so it came off—but
I still had perfect eyes on.”
Join us as editors from The Kit show us their top pieces
to party in from Design Lab.
Digital & Special
Projects Editor
Alex Laws
RSVP to thekit.ca/design-lab-event/
Enter for a chance to win a $1,000 head-to-toe holiday wardrobe for two
from Design Lab and have it styled by a personal shopper.
FAMILY MATTERS
“My mom always said to me, ‘Always
look fetching in the morning. Always
make an effort.’ Which is probably why
I gave birth in makeup and go to bed in
makeup—I do everything in makeup. Her
whole thing is very much like Elizabeth
Taylor: Put a little bit of lipstick on and
everything’s fabulous.”
SAVE 30% ON DESIGN LAB FASHION AND FOOTWEAR
On our regular prices. Offer valid only during the event.
Introducing
MODERN
MUSE
LE ROUGE
A sophisticated, feminine
scent with contrasting
notes of fruit and floral.
Eau de parfum, 30 mL, $68.
50 mL, $90. 100 mL, $122.
ESTÉE L AUDER The Colour Edit
50
9
6 A VALUE OF OVER $330
$
With any ESTÉE LAUDER fragrance purchase.
This limited edition collection includes
Advanced Night Repair, the No.1 Repair
Serum in Canada*, Resilience Lift Firming/
Sculpting, Firming/Sculpting Face and Neck
Creme, three full-size lipsticks, and more.
* Based on NPD Group Inc. unit sales for Canadian
department stores for 12 months ending July 2015
SHOP THEBAY.COM